Apparatus for laminating strands to form a circular fabric



April 4, 1950 K. s. EWER 2,502,514

APPARATUS FOR LAMINATING smmns TO FORM A CIRCULAR FABRIG Filed Qct. 2, 1945 s Shee'ts-Sheet 1 I Fig.1

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Kendall J: Ewe fi.

April 4, 1950 K. s. EWER APPARATUS FOR LAMINATING STRANDS TO FORM A CIRCULAR FABRIC s Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed 001.. 2, 1945 00 09 i f f a! ,g I HendallAS'. Ewen" April 4, 1950 K. s. EWER 2,502,514 APPARATUS FOR LAMINATING STRANDS TO FORM A cmcuum FABRIC Filed Oct. 2, 1945 e Sheets-Sheet s Kendall 45 Ewen m 93mm; xi 6% April 4, 1950 K. s. EWER 2,502,514 APPARATUS FOR LAMINATING STRANDS TO FORM A CIRCULAR FABRIC 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oct. 2, 1945 Hen dall Ewen fin wsgzga April 4, 1950 K. s. EWER APPARATUS FOR LAMINATING STRANDS TO FORM A CIRCULAR FABRIC Filed 001;. -2, 1945 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR.

Kendall LS. Ewe;

BY %VEYS Patented Apr. 4,1950

I The invention-"relates to'the manufacture of woven rabnc-anqmore particularly to the combined spinning and weaving of fabric from any 'material'which 'is capable of being reduced to a liquid or-'semi-'liquid state and extruded in filaments which I may be dried by evaporation, air, heat, cold orotherdryingagent.

-- "Unlike the conventional" methods now in use for weaving iabric wherein the filaments'arez-formed,

twisted and drawn into thieads and'then fed upon looms or the like for weaving, the present invention'- contemplates performing all of these func "tionscontinuously and ina single operation.

. "The material employedto form the filaments from which-the fabric is woven may be any of the so-called' plasticssuch as are now commonly used for weaving "fabrics such as hosiery and the like'or glasslwood' pulp or'other fibers capable of being reduced a state in which' it may be extrudedin filaments.-

i The fabrics'which may bewo'venby the method and apparatus forming- 'the"invention are too numerous'and diversified in character to be classified suchcategories as tulle, gauze, crepe, mus

'lins and-the"like but embrace also such fabrics as webbing;'sheeting, lace,'cloth mesh, horsehair braid, burlap, carpetin'g," canvas,' rickrack, mats and doilies and intact all styles and patterns of Weaving as now k'nowin together with many new styles and patterns which may be obtained through the manipulation of adjustments as here- The material 'in'plastic condition is extruded.

through orifices nozzles or tubes producing filaments which aredeposited upon a traveling belt, drum, turntable, disc or other support movable relative to the orificed'nozzles 'or tubes'and preferably at'a speed lesstha'n the speed at which the filaments are extruded'from'the orifices, the nozzles or tubes being either stationary or movable in variable strokes toproduce a great variety of patterns and styles iii-the woven material.

'- -'A s"- an alternative the nozzles: or tubes from which thefilaments are extruded may be stationary and the beltor other support may be reciprocated transversely-in ordert o produce a zig 'zag pattern of eachfilamentuponfthe support. I

l The woven plastic fabrictravels' upon'the belt or othe r conveying meansasufiicient distance to permit evaporation; air drying, cooling or-other setting up, of. the "plastic material to take place after which it 'isl'fremoved :flOl'il the conveyor,

itherb'yaxreel or; otherwise as desired, in the form of the finished product. i I

,7 lt i s,therefore an-pbject, of the present invention to provide a ;nove lwmethod and apparatus for extruding plastic; filaments .upon a carrier, the rclativemovementof the carrier andextruding means being such;astoproducethe desired patv. ,STATES' PATENT OFFICE- I; APPARATUS FOR LAMINATING STRANDS TO FORM A CIRCULAR FABRIC Kendall S. Ewer, Cape May, N. J. Application October 2, 1945, Serial No. 619,879

' 8 Claims. (0!. 154-1376) tern or style of fabric as the extruded filaments are deposited upon the carrier or conveyor.

Another object of the invention is the provision of means for reciprocating the extruding means transversely of the path of the conveyor or carrier so as to deposit the extruded filaments upon the conveyor in what might be described as zig zag lines. f

It is a further object to provide means for reciprocating the conveyor transversely of the path of its movement, while the extruding means remains stationary, whereby the extruded filaments may be deposited in zig zag lines upon th conveyor.

Still another object is the provision of means for varying the reciprocating strokes of the extruding means so as to produce various patterns in the finished fabric.

A further object is the provision of means by which 'a portion of the extruding means may remain stationary while the carrier is moved relative thereto at a speed less than the speed at which the filaments are extruded from the orifices of the extruding means whereby each filament will form a continuous series of loops or eyes upon the conveyor.

A still further object is to provide means for extruding a plastic material by use of air, hydraulic or other pressure through orifices of variable diameter located at variable distances in line, in nozzles, tubes or other hollow devices through which the semi-liquid or plastic material flows under pressure.

It is another object of the invention to provide a variable arrangement whereby these lines of orifices may be so spaced that the extruded plastic filaments may fall or be dropped upon a conveyor or movable support at pre-determined places to form any desired pattern, or style of weaving.

It is also an object of the invention to provide for regulating the speed or take away or travel of the conveyor belt, drum, disc, turntable or other movable support for conveying the formed fabric away from the point of extrusion.

A further object is to provide means for regulating the intensity of the heat, air or cold blown,

focused, or otherwise directed or made available around, or directly upon or adjacent to the woven plastic fabric while it travels away from the extruding means. v

A still further object is to provide means for regulating the speed of the belt, drum, disc or other conveyor or movable support upon which the plastic fabric is deposited and to operate the same either continuously or intermittently.

Another object-is to provide novel means for winding or reeling the completed fabric as it is removed from the moving support or conveyor. Still another object is to provide means for forming circular or disc-shaped woven fabric articles;

The above objects together with others which will be apparent from the drawings and following description, or which may be later referred to, may be attained by carrying out the improved method'with apparatus such as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which;

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic top plan view of 'liquid weaving machine constructed in accordancewith the invention, showing an endless belt for receiving and supporting the woven material;

Fig. 2 a side elevation of the forward or weaving end of the machine shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 a side elevation of the discharge or delivery end of the machine;

Fig. 4 an enlarged, detail elevation of the cam meansfor reciprocating the nozzles;

Fig. 5 a top plan view of the reciprocating means shown in. Fig. 4;

Fig. 6a fragmentary top plan view showing one of the many arrangements and combinations of nozzles which may be provided for producing a great variety'of effects in the woven products, which may be obtained by the improved proc and apparatus;

Fig. '7 a diagrammatic side elevation of a form of the apparatus in which a revolving drum or wheel is employed to receive and support the woven material;

Fig. 8 a top plan view of the apparatus shown Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 a side elevation. partly in section, of another form of the apparatus in which the woven material is deposited and supported upon a rotatable table;

Fig. 12 a top plan view of the apparatus shown' in Fig. 11, parts being broken away for the pur pose of illustration;

Fig, 13 a diagrammatic, plan view of the forward or weaving end of a form of the machine in which the belt or conveyor is reciprocated transversely;

Figs. 14, 15 and 16 are fragmentary portions of ribbons or strips of various designs which may be woven by varying the strokes of the nozzles, and;

Fig. 17 a plan view of a circular mat or similar article which may be woven upon the form of a paratus shown in Figs. 11 and 12.

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive, one form of. apparatus for carrying out the invention is disclosed in which the plastic filamenw are deposited in a pattern upon a moving support or conveyor in the form of atravelin; belt indicated generally at 20 located over the drive pulley 2| and idler pulley 22 at opposite ends of'the table or platform 23 over which the upper course of the belt is arranged to travel in the direction of the arrows shown on Figs. 1 and 6.

The drive pulley 2| is fixed upon a drive shaft 24 journalled in bearings 25 mounted upon the uprights 26 by means of which the drive pulley 2| may be located at any desired distance above the fioor to accommodate the belt 20 traveling over the table 23 at the desired height.

The idler pulley 22 at the other end of the belt is mounted upon a shaft 21 journalled in bearlugs 23 mounted upon the uprights 29 ,mounted 4 upon the floor and locating the idler pulley 22 at the discharge end of the table 23, which table may be inclined toward the discharge or delivery end of the apparatus. v

The table 23 may be f supported at opposite ends by the uprights .26 and 23 having suitable means at their upper ends for supporting the end portions of the table.

A reversing, variable speed motor 32, or similar prime mover, may be provided for driving the belt 20 and may be operatively connected .to the drive shaft 24 in any usual and well known manner. For the purpose of illustration in the drawings, this driving means is shown as comprising a drive pulley 33 upon the shaft 34 of the motor, said pulley being operatively connected as by the belt 35, to a pulley 38 fixed upon the drive shaft 24 of the belt.

The desired reduced speed between the motor 32 and the belt 20 may be attained through the relative sizes of the pulleys 33 and 36. Further .the speed of the belt may be regulated to accommodate varying conditions by varying the speed of the variable speed mot0r32.

The extruding means for forming the plastic filaments and depositing them in desired patterns upon the conveyor belt, may be mounted upon a shelf or support 31 located at one side of the belt 20 and comprises one or more nozzles, tubes or hollow bodies 38 each of which is provided in its under side with one or any desired plurality of orifices 39 which may be of variable size, number and spacings, as may be required in the pattern to be produced.

Each nozzle 38 is connected to a-flexible tube or pipe 40 leading from a source of supply of fluid or semi-fluid material such as so-called plastic material, molten glass, wood pulp or other fibres in water suspension, or any other material capable of being reduced to liquid or plastic state and extruded in filaments to produce a fabric pattern and then dried for use. This liquid or plastic material may be fed from the source of supply through the tube 40 and extruded through the orifices of the nozzles by the use of air, hydraulic or other pressure.

For the purpose of producing various patterns at least some of the nozzles or tubes 38 are preferably reciprocated transversely of the path of the belt 20. For this purpose the nozzle or nozzles which are to be reciprocated may be mounted upon blocks or slides 4| which are slidably mounted within the guides 42 mounted upon the shelf or support 31. I

Any suitable means may be provided for reciprocating the nozzle 38, a preferred mechanism being shown in detail in Figs. 4 and 5. For this purpose a roller cam follower 43 is journalled as at 44 in the bifurcated end 45 of the slide 4|.

The roller cam follower 43 may be held in contact with the periphery of the cam wheel or ring 45 as by means of the coil spring 41 located between the guide member 42 and the lug 48 upon the slide 4 I The cam ring or wheel 48 is adapted to be ad- Justed upon the cam shaft 49 by means of the eccentric cam 50 which is fixed upon the cam shaft 43 and around which the cam ring 45 may be adjusted and fixed in adjusted position as by the screws 52.

The cam shaft is journalled in suitable bearings 53 mounted upon the support or shelf 31 and is adapted to be driven through any usual and well known drive connection from a variable speed motor 54 which is shown as provided with a pulley v in Fig. 14 may be produced.

ll connected by a belt 56 with a pulley l1 upon the cam shaft.

Any combinations, number or arrangement of orificed nozzles or tubes may be provided with various adjustments for the strokes of different nozzles or if desired certain of the nozzles may be held stationary to produce certain patterns or designs. The nozzles may all be located on one side of the belt as shown in Fig. 1, or upon both sides of the belt as shown in Fig. 6.

By operating the belt at a speed less than the speed at which the filaments or plastic material are extruded from the orifices and by reciprocating the nozzle, each orifice wi11 deposit substantially zig zag filaments upon the belt such as indicated at F in Figs. 14, 15 and 16. These zig zag filaments may be varied in design by varying the stroke of the nozzle. By providing two oppositely reciprocating nozzles one forming the filaments F and the other forming oppositely disposed zig zag filaments F, a design such as shown In Fig. 15 another illustration of on of the many designs which may be produced by forming the zig zag filaments F with one nozzle having a plurality of .openings and forming across the same another substantially zig zag filament F by means of one nozzle having a single orifice I and operating at a much longer stroke.

By holding one nozzle in stationary position andextruding filaments from the orifices thereof at agreater speed than the speed of the belt 20, a filament such as indicated at F in Fig. 16 is extruded fromreach orifice and. comprises a continuous series of loops, or eyes.

By mixing difierent color ingredients or pigments with the plastic material before extrusion or forming of the filaments, a great variety of color schemes and combinationsmay be obtained in the finishediabrics. a

As the extruded filaments are deposited upon thetraveling belt in;the desired fabric design, they are carried away from the extrusion mechanism and toward the right as viewed in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 and the fabric may either be dried by atmospheric air where this is sumcient with the material being used, or may be carried through a drying tunnel'surrounding the belt and indicated generally at 58, within which hot or cold.

air may be blown, focused, or otherwise directed or made present around, or directly upon, or adjacent to the plastic fabric for properly drying or setting up th fabric, any suitable means being provided for regulating the intensity of the air pressure or temperature. v

For the purpose of illustration the tunnel, 58 is shown as heated by a pluralityof heat lamps 59 suspended from the support 60 and located within the cylindrical guards 6| communicating with the tunnel 58. V

The tunnel is alsosuspended from the support 60 as by the members 62 and the entire support, tunnel and heat means may be adjusted vertically relative to the belt as by means of the rod 63 carried by the support 60 and mounted within the slots 64 upon the upright extensions 65 on 6 located upon the shaft 81 and connected, as. by the belt H with a pulley ltupontheidler pulley shaftZ'l.

In Figs. 7 and 84s shown a form of the invention in which'the movinggsupportorconveyor upon which the extrudedfilaments 1 are deposited is in the formof a drum. cylinderor wheel arranged to be rotatedinthe direction of the arrows shown on said figures. The nozzles 38 and their associated partsmay all be identically the same as shown in Figs. 1 to dinclusive and the same reference numeralsare applied thereto in Figs. 7 and 8 as previously, referred to with reference to Figs. 1 to 6. i

The operation of thenozzles may be the same in this form of the invention as above described and as the plastic filaments are deposited upon the peripheries of the drum' or cylinder zll', in

the uprights 29 at the delivery end of the belt. 7

driven from the belt 20 by means of a pulley 10 the desired fabric design or-pattern, the fabric being continuously carried away from the extrusion point by rotation of the drum 20'.

The drying or setting up tunnel 58' is of arcuate shape so as to fit around a portion of the periphery of the drum or cylinder but is otherwise the same as the tunnel shown andrdescribed upon the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6 and-is shownas provided with the heat lamps 59' located within the guardslil', the lamps and tunnels being suspended from the support 60'.

After the fabric has been dried or set up and passes out of the tunnel 58', it may be removed from the surface of the drum or cylinder as by.

which the filaments are extruded from the nozzles 38. r a

Another modification of theinvention is shown in Figs. 9 and 10 in which the moving conveyor, 'or. support upon whichthe extruded filament fabric is deposited, is in the form of a rotatable.

table 20a mounted upon the shaft 14 which may be rotated by any usual and well known drive means to rotate the table 260. in the direction of the arrows shown on Figs- 9 and 10.

The nozzles 38 and their associated parts may be of the same construction as previously, illustrated and described: and the same reference numerals are used thereon. The drying or setting up tunnel 58a is located over a portion of the topof the table 20a, starting and terminating at points spaced from the extruding nozzles 38 and may be provided withtheguards Bla within which may be located heatlamps 59a, cooling device, fans or the like, suspended from the support 69a from which the tunnel may also be suspended as by the members, 62a.

A scraper 13a is adapted to contact the upper surface of the rotatable table at a point adja-, cent to the exit end of the tunnel 58a forremoving the finishedfabric from the table after setting up, where it may be reeled upon any-suitable reel if desired.

Another modification of ,the invention is shown in Figs. lland l2 in which a pluralityof rotatable discs are independently :rotatably; mounted upon a turntable for forming v circular articles such as generally indicated at Cin Fig. 17.

In this form of theinvention the turntable 15 may be provided with a dependingperipheral flange It forminga housing-for,thegearing by means of which the turntable and-discs are ro- 7 tated in the directions and at the speeds as will be hereinafter described.

Within the housing thus formed is located a stationary support, indicated generally at 11, upon which is fixed a bearing member I8 within which may be located any suitable anti-friction bearing device such as the roller bearings I8 within which is journalled the hub 88 of th lower disc plate 8I.

This disc plate is rotatable relative to the ring gear 82 by means of the annular groove 8I' in the 'disc plate and the annular rib 82' in the ring gear. The ring gear 82 is provided around its periphery with the external gear teeth 83 and around its inner perimeter with the internal gear teeth 84, an upper disc plate 8| a being rotatable relative to the ring gear 82.

A central, vertical shaft 85 is iournalled in ball bearings 86 in the upper and lower disc plates, and in ball bearings 8.1 in the worm gear housing 88, which is mounted upon any suitable stationary support within the gear housing I6 as indicated at 88.

A worm wheel 88 is keyed upon the lower end portion of the vertical shaft 85 and meshes with the worm screw 8| fixed upon the shaft 82 adapted to be operatively connected'to a variable speed motor (not shown).

A pinion 83 is keyed upon the upper portion of the vertical shaft 85, between the upper and lower disc plates, and meshes with four similar pinions 84, each of which is keyed upon a shaft 85 journalled in ball bearings 86 carried by the lower and upper disc plates BI and 8Ia respectively.

Each of the shafts 85 extends upward through a suitable aperture 8'! in the turntable I and has a disc 88 fixedv upon its upper end above said turntable. A pinion 88 is keyed upon a vertical shaft I88 journalled in anti-friction bearings I8I, carried by any suitable stationary support I82, within the gear housing I6.

A worm gear I83 is keyed upon the lower portion of the shaft I88 and meshes-with a worm screw I84 fixed upon a shaft I85 which may be operatively connected to a variable speed motor (not shown).

The extruding means for forming the plastic filaments may be of the same general construction and arrangement as hereinbefore illustrated and described and the same reference numerals are applied thereto as previously used in other figures of the drawings.

Any suitable guard or tunnel arrangement may be provided over the discs 88, as indicated generally at I86, and any heating or cooling means or fan or the like may be provided at 0ne-p0int, as indicated by the heat lamp I81 located within the guard I88 mounted upon the support I88.

In the operation of this form of the invention, the shaft 85 is rotated through the worm gearing by means of the variable speed motor (not shown) connected to the worm shaft 82 so as to rotate the shaft 85 at the desired speed and in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 11 or counterclockwise as viewed in Fig. 12. Through the pinions 83 and 84 all of the discs 88 will be rotated in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 12, as indicated by the arrows upon said discs.

Assuming that the ring gear 82 were to be held stationary this clockwise direction of the pinions 84 would cause the disc plates 8I and Na and the turntable or gear housing I5 to rotate in a counterclockwise direction.

However in order to accomplish the purpose of the invention the pinion 88, driven in a counterclockwise direction through the worm gears I83 and I84 and variable speed motor (-not shown) which is operatively connected tothe worm shaft I85, drives the ring gear in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 12 and at a sufficient speed to slowly rotate the turntable I5 in a clockwise direction as view'ed'in said figure.

The speed of the movement of the ring gear in this direction is preferably such as to cause the center of each disc shaft 85 to travel about onehalf inch in a clockwise direction for each rotation of the disc 88 fixed upon said shaft.

In operating the device as each disc 88 reaches the position indicated at D in Fig. 12 withv the center of the disc substantially at the end of the nozzle 38, the extrusion means will be operated to cause a plurality of filaments to be extruded from the nozzle upon the disc, these filaments being of zlz zag form due to the reciprocation of the nozzle as above described. As the disc at this point is rotating in a clockwise direction and at the same time moving in a clockwise direction away from the nozzle, the zig zag filaments will be deposited in spiral form upon the disc from the center toward the periphery thereof forming the article indicated at C in Fig. 17.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Fig. 13, the nozzle 38 may be stationary and the endless belt 28b is driven in the direction of the arrow by means of the drive pulley 2Ib. In order to get the zig zag formation of the filaments extruded from the nozzle 38, upon the belt 28b,' the belt may be reciprocated transversely of its path of movement and this may be accomplished by reciprocating the drive pulley 2 I!) through its bearings 25b by means of an eccentric I I8.

This form of apparatus is especially adapted foruse in connection with materials which may require stretch spinning of the filaments to give them strength. For this purpose the nozzle 38 may be located at any desired height above the conveyor belt 28b, so that the stretch spinning of the extruded'filaments may be accomplished between the time that they are extruded from the nozzle and the time thatthey are deposited upon the conveyor.

,From the above, it will be obvious that fabric articles of a great diversity of pattern, design, color combinations and shapes may be formed continuously from the extruded filaments of various materials capable of being reduced to a plastic state and extruded through the orifices of the nozzles, the fabric material or articles being continuously formed, set up and removed from the moving support or conveyor.

1 The adjustable features of the various parts of the mechanism provide for the filaments to be laid on the conveyor in a great variety of patterns or designs and if desired, subsequent filaments may be laid over or beside the first pattern in any desired thickness, pattern, number or color until the desired form, shape, pattern, design or end product is obtained.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for forming a circular fabric ar ticle of a viscous material comprising a turntable, means for rotating the turntable, a plurality of,

material from the orifices of the nozzle and means for reciprocating the nozzle whereby a circular fabric article comprising a concentric series of zig-zag filaments is deposited upon the rotating disc.

2. Apparatus for forming a circular fabric article of a viscous material comprising a turntable, means for rotating the turntable, a pinrality of rotatable discs journalled upon the turntable, a nozzle having orifices therein and located above the turntable, means for rotating each disc in the same direction as the turntable as it reaches a point beneath the nozzle, means for passing viscous material under pressure through .the nozzle and extruding filaments of the viscous material from the orifices of the nozzle and means for reciprocating the nozzle whereby a circular fabric article comprising a concentric series of zig-zag filaments is deposited upon the rotating disc.

3. Apparatus for forming a circular fabric article of a viscous material comprising a turntable, means for rotatingthe turntable, a plurality of rotatable discs journalled upon the turntable, a nozzle having orifices therein and located above the turntable, means forvrotating each disc at a considerably greater speed than the turntable as it reaches a point beneath the nozzle, means for passing viscous material under pressure through the nozzle and extruding filaments of the viscous material from the orifices of the nozzle and means for reciprocating the nozzle whereby a circular fabric article comprising a concentric series of zig-zag filaments is deposite upon the rotating disc.

4. Apparatus for forming a circular fabric article of a viscous material comprising a turntable, means for rotating the turntable, a plurality of rotatable discs journalled upon the turntable, a nozzle having orifices therein and located above the turntable, means for rotating each disc at a considerably greater speed and in'the same direction as the turntable as it reaches a point beneath the nozzle, means for passing viscous material under pressure through the nozzle and extruding filaments of the viscous material from the orifices of the nozzle and means for reciproeating the nozzle whereby a circular fabric article comprising a concentric series of zig-zag filaments isdeposited upon the rotating disc. I

5. Apparatus for forming a circular fabric article of a viscous material comprising a turntable, means for rotating the turntable, a plurality of rotatable discs journalled upon the turntable, a

nozzle having orifices therein and located above the turntable, means for rotating each disc as it reaches a, point beneath the nozzle, means for passing viscous material under pressure through the nozzleand extruding filaments of the viscous material from the orifices of the nozzle and means for reciprocating the nozzle whereby a circular fabric articlev comprising a concentric series of zlg-zag filaments is deposited upon the rotating disc, and means for setting up the viscous fabric upon the disc.

6. Apparatus for forming a circular fabric article of viscous material comprising a turntable, a spaced pair of disc plates located below the turntable, a central drive shaft journalled in the disc plates, a drive pinion upon the drive shaft and located between the disc plates, a plurality of disc shafts journalled through the disc plates and through the turntable, pinions on the disc shafts meshing with said drive pinion, discs fixed upon the upper ends of the disc shafts above the Number 10 turntable, means for rotating the turntable, a nozzle having orifices therein and located above the discs, means for passing viscous material under pressure through the nozzle and extruding filaments of the viscous material from the orifices of the nozzle and means for reciprocating the nozzle whereby a circular fabric article comprising a concentric series of zig-zag filaments is deposited upon the rotating discs as they reach a point beneath the nozzle.

7. Apparatus for forming a circular fabric article of viscous material comprising a turntable, a

spaced pair of disc plates located below the turn-' table, a central drive shaft journalled in the disc plates, a drive pinion upon the drive shaft and located between the disc plates, a plurality of disc shafts journalled through the disc plates and plates and meshing with the pinions upon the disc shafts, and means for rotatingsaid ring gear for rotating the turntable, a nozzle having orifices therein and located above the discs, means for passing viscous material under pressure through the nozzle and extruding filaments of the viscous material from the orifices of the nozzle and means for reciprocating the nozzle whereby a circular fabric article comprising a concentric series of zig-zag filaments is deposited upon the rotating discs as they reach a point beneath the nozzle.

8. Apparatus for forming a circular fabric article of viscous material comprising a turntable, a spaced pair of disc plates located below the turntable, a central drive shaft journalled in the disc plates, a drive pinion upon the drive shaft and located between the disc plates, a plurality of disc shafts journalled through the disc plates and through the turntable, pinions on the disc shafts meshing with said drive pinion, discs fixed upon the upper ends of the disc shafts above the turntable, a ring gear journalled between the disc plates and meshing with the pinions upon the disc shafts, and means for rotating said ring gear in the same direction as said discs for rotating the turntable, a nozzle having orifices therein and located above the discs, means for passing viscous material under pressure through the nozzle and extruding filaments of the viscous material from the orifices of the nozzle and means for reciprocating the nozzle whereby a circular fabric article comprising a concentric series of zig-zag filaments is deposited upon the rotating discs as they reach a point beneath the The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date 692,467 Mugnier Feb. 4, 1902 1,420,319 Kelley June 20, 1922 1,810,328 Slater June 16, 1931 2,081,060 Modigliani May 18, 1937 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date Great Britain of 1898 

1. APPARATUS FOR FORMING A CIRCULAR FABRIC ARTICLE OF A VISCOUS MATERIAL COMPRISING A TURNTABLE, MEANS FOR ROTATING THE TURNTABLE, A PLURALITY OF ROTATABLE DISCS JOURNALLED UPON THE TURNTABLE, A NOZZLE HAVING ORIFICES THEREIN AND LOCATED ABOVE THE TURNTABLE, MEANS FOR ROTATING EACH DISC AS IT REACHES A POINT BENEATH THE NOZZLE, MEANS FOR PASSING VISCOUS MATERIAL UNDER PRESSURE THROUGH THE NOZZLE AND EXTRUDING FILAMENTS OF THE VISCOUS MATERIAL FROM THE ORIFICES OF THE NOZZLE AND MEANS FOR RECIPROCATING THE NOZZLE WHEREBY A CIRCULAR FABRIC ARTICLE COMPRISING A CONCENTRIC SERIES OF ZIG-ZAG FILAMENTS IS DEPOSITED UPON THE ROTATING DISC. 